OZEMPIC SHORTAGE - A drug primarily used to treat diabetes is facing shortages in Luxembourg due to its newfound popularity in assisting weight loss. The shortage for Ozempic is now so acute that there is talk of temporarily putting the restriction into law, according to Health Director Dr Jean-Claude Schmit. He said the problem is likely to get worse in the coming months.
ECO STATE AID - Yesterday, the Government Council met for the first time this year. It has given the green light to the extension of state aid for climate-friendly driving and living. The climate bonus mobility grant for cars with little or no CO2 emissions has been extended by three months. And financial aid for climate-friendly housing, where the focus is on sustainable energy consumption, will continue for six months.
DAMAGED DOOR - A recent Luxair flight from Luxembourg to Milan was delayed for five hours due to a damaged door, resulting in 25 passengers being forced to disembark to comply with emergency exit regulations.The plane was unable to depart on time as one of the doors was damaged when the stairs were being removed.
TOP DOG - Kobe, a drug-detection dog, played a pivotal role in the arrest of three drug dealers in 2023, according to an announcement by the Customs and Excise Agency. In separate operations Kobe successfully identified concealed narcotics on trains traversing the Belgium-Luxembourg route. Notably, one of the traffickers had ingested drug pellets in an attempt to evade detection, but to no avail. The operations resulted in the confiscation of 189 cocaine pellets, 67 heroin pellets, a small quantity of cannabis, and three mobile phones.
RED SEA ATTACKS - The UN Security Council has approved a resolution, demanding an immediate end to attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. It acknowledged the right of states to defend their vessels from attack. The intensifying attacks have caused shipping companies to bypass the route and instead divert around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, significantly adding to journey times and cost.
TAIWAN ELECTION - China has warned Taiwan’s voters to make the correct choice in the island’s weekend elections, describing the presidential frontrunner as a “severe danger” who would threaten peace by following the “evil path” of independence. Democratic Taiwan is two days from a pivotal election that is being watched from Beijing to Washington because the next president will determine the island’s future relations with an increasingly assertive China in a flashpoint region.
FOOTBALL - Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 5-3 after extra-time in a pulsating battle in Saudi Arabia to reach the Spanish Super Cup final. In Sunday’s final Madrid will face either Barcelona or Osasuna, who meet today in the other semi-final.
Liverpool produced another comeback after conceding first to take a 2-1 lead over Fulham into the second leg of their League Cup semi-final. Jurgen Klopp’s men have now fallen behind in 14 games this season, but have won seven of those matches and lost just three.The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has confirmed former Sao Paulo boss Dorival Junior has been named coach of the Brazilian men’s national team, taking over the five-time world champions after a string of poor results. The CBF did not specify the length of his contract. Brazilian media reports said it would run through the 2026 World Cup.AMERICAN FOOTBALL - Nick Saban, the record-breaking coach of Alabama’s storied college football team, has announced that he is retiring. Saban, who is 72, has won an unmatched seven national titles during his career with six of them coming during a dynastic reign with The University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide.
OLYMPICS - The chief organiser of the 2024 Paris Olympics has insisted there are no plans to move the opening ceremony of the Games from the river Seine amid ongoing speculation about the hugely ambitious water-based show. French security services are concerned about securing such a large area and the risk of a terror attack or stampede. But Tony Estanguet, who heads the Paris Olympics organising committee, stressed that the location for the ceremony would not change.
Continuing under the influence of high-pressure conditions, the weather promises a dry and sunny day. In addition we can expect northeast winds with average speeds ranging from 10 to 20 km/h. In the early morning, temperatures across most areas will hover between -6°C and -4°C, with potential drops to around -8°C in certain valleys, particularly in northern Luxembourg. Maximum temperatures in the afternoon will range between 0°C and 2°C.
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